The Find: January 2013 Edition

The top-selling bottled beer in the UK, Crabbie’s Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer, has landed in the U.S. via St. Killian. Now available in 18 states, Crabbie’s (4.8% ABV) is fermented with fresh ginger and steeped for up to eight weeks, creating a smooth but zesty beer. It can be used for classic cocktails like the Dark and Stormy and the Moscow Mule, but Crabbie’s recommends serving it chilled over ice with a slice of lemon or lime.

As a follow-up to their flagship American Dry Gin, Greenhook Ginsmiths Distillery has released the world’s first-ever commercially produced beach plum gin liqueur. Founder Steven DeAngelo originally planned to make a Sloe Gin; but during research he remembered the beach plums of his childhood that grew wild around the nearby Rockaway Beaches. Long (six months!) whole-fruit maceration (as opposed to pressing) yielded a silky liqueur with sour cherry and juniper notes on the nose, bittersweet fruit on the palate and a complex, spicy finish. Currently available in NY; CT and NJ mixologists and liqueur aficionados will have access in early 2013.

San Francisco-based Anchor Distilling Company—whose portfolio already boasts 300 specialty products from nearly 20 countries—is launching two expressions of the Japanese whisky brand Nikka in the U.S. Yoichi Single Malt 15-year-old (SRP $129.99) is a rich, peaty, masculine malt made with direct heating distillation, in which pot stills are heated with finely powdered natural coal—a traditional method that is now rare even in Scotland. Taketsuru Pure Malt 12-year-old (SRP $69.99), a combo of two pure malt whiskies from the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries, features sweet aromas of apple and pear combined with a silky smooth texture—a perfect introduction to the Japanese whisky style.

Aiming to add cool to chillin’ drinks, the ICE Block Cooler offers a way to keep beverages cold while casting an attention-grabbing glow. No ice to add, liquid to drip, or lids to mess with—filled with a thermal freezing gel that is sealed into the body of the cooler, all you need to do is prep it in a freezer before using. It holds both cans and bottles (which need to be pre-chilled). The handle flips down for table service, and a flip of a switch activates the internal blue LED lights. Bars can use it for serving chilled test tube shots; also can be customized with a logo.